The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2026) is one of the most prestigious national-level entrance exams for students aspiring to pursue higher education or career opportunities in Engineering, Science, Technology, Architecture, and Humanities. GATE scores are widely accepted for M.Tech/ M.E/ Ph.D. admissions, as well as for PSU recruitments across India.

For the year 2026, the exam will be conducted by IIT Guwahati in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. This year, GATE has come up with major changes, including a new sectional paper in Energy Science (XE-I), updated paper combinations, and a revised application fee structure.

In this article by CollegeKampus, you’ll get the complete details of GATE 2026 syllabus (PDFs for all 30 subjects), registration process, exam pattern, eligibility, exam centres, cut-off trends, and more.

📌 Highlights of GATE 2026

🗓️ GATE 2026 Exam Dates

Check out the official GATE 2026 exam schedule:

🔔 Latest Updates in GATE 2026

• ✅ New Section Added – Energy Science (XE-I) under Engineering Sciences paper.

• ✅ Paper Combinations Updated – More flexible second-paper options.

• ✅ Fee Hike Introduced – Check revised fee structure below.

📝 GATE 2026 Registration Process

The GATE 2026 Application Form will be available online from 25th August 2025 at the GOAPS portal. No offline applications will be accepted.

Application Fee Structure

👉 For students applying for two papers, the fee will be doubled.

📌 Eligibility Criteria for GATE 2026

• Educational Qualification – Candidates in the 3rd year or higher of a UG degree or those who have already completed their degree in Engineering/Technology/Science/Architecture/Humanities are eligible.

• Age Limit – No age restriction.

• Foreign Nationals – Eligible if pursuing/ completed a 3-year or more UG program in a recognized university.

• Professional Societies – Degrees must be recognized by AICTE/ MoE/ UGC/ UPSC.

📊 GATE 2026 Exam Pattern

• Mode: CBT (Computer-Based Test)

• Duration: 3 Hours

• Total Papers: 30

• Types of Questions:

  • MCQ (Negative Marking)

  • MSQ (No Negative Marking)

  • NAT (No Negative Marking)

• Marking Scheme:

  • 1 or 2 Marks per Question

  • Negative marking only for MCQs (–1/3 for 1 mark, –2/3 for 2 marks)

• Sections: General Aptitude (15 Marks) + Subject Paper (85 Marks)

📚 GATE 2026 Syllabus PDF (All 30 Papers)

The official GATE 2026 syllabus PDFs are now available for download. Here are some major subject highlights:

• Civil Engineering (CE) – Structural Engg., Geotechnical Engg., Transportation Engg., Water Resources, Mathematics

• Mechanical Engineering (ME) – Thermodynamics, Manufacturing, Strength of Materials, Fluid Mechanics

• Computer Science (CS) – Algorithms, Data Structures, Operating Systems, Programming, Databases

• Electronics & Communication (EC) – Networks, Signals, Digital Circuits, Control Systems

• Electrical Engineering (EE) – Power Systems, Machines, Control Systems, Analog & Digital Electronics

• Engineering Sciences (XE) – Mathematics + 2 Optional Sections (Fluid, Solid, Energy Science, etc.)

• Humanities & Social Sciences (XH) – Reasoning, Comprehension, Economics, English, Psychology, Sociology

👉 [Download GATE 2026 Syllabus PDFs – All Subjects] (link placeholder for CollegeKampus site)

📖 Preparation Tips for GATE 2026

• Start with syllabus mapping and identify important topics.

• Maintain short notes for last-minute revision.

• Practice previous year question papers & mock tests.

• Attempt online GATE mock test on official portal.

• Revise regularly and focus on concept clarity + problem-solving.

📚 Recommended Books for GATE 2026

• CS/IT – Computer Organization by Carl Hamacher, Algorithms by CLRS

• ME – Engineering Thermodynamics by PK Nag, Strength of Materials by Gere & Timoshenko

• CE – Soil Mechanics by SK Garg, Structural Analysis by CK Wang

• EE/EC – Electrical Machinery by PS Bimbhra, Network Analysis by Van Valkenburg

🎫 GATE 2026 Admit Card

• To be released in 1st week of January 2026.

• Downloadable only from the official portal – no postal copies.

• Carry photo ID proof (Aadhar/ PAN/ Passport/ Voter ID) along with admit card.

📍 GATE 2026 Exam Centres

The exam will be conducted in major cities across India including:

• North Zone: Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Dehradun, Noida, Ghaziabad

• South Zone: Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Trivandrum

• West Zone: Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad

• East Zone: Kolkata, Guwahati, Patna, Bhubaneswar

(Complete list available on official website.)

📊 GATE 2026 Cut-Off (Expected)

🎓 GATE 2026 Counselling

Counselling will be conducted via COAP (for IITs) & CCMT (for NITs, IIITs, GFTIs).

Process includes:

1. Online Registration

2. Fee Payment

3. Choice Filling & Locking

4. Seat Allotment

5. Document Verification

✅ Conclusion

The GATE 2026 exam is a golden opportunity for students aiming for M.Tech/ Ph.D. admissions in IITs, NITs, IIITs, or for recruitment in PSUs. With the new syllabus PDFs released, candidates can now plan a focused preparation strategy.

Stay connected with CollegeKampus for the latest GATE 2026 updates, preparation tips, and admission guidance.